VDA President Hildegard Müller regarding the Utility Factor

VDA President Hildegard Müller: 

“Time is running out. Brussels must act immediately to give plug-in hybrid technology a future. We expect Berlin to support this effort. We have been pointing out the need for action for months. It is utterly incomprehensible that the EU is still pressing ahead with the tightening of the so-called utility factor for plug-in hybrids scheduled for this month. In doing so, Brussels is putting around 50,000 jobs at risk in Germany alone, particularly in the supplier industry. This is the opposite of the technology-neutral, business-friendly policy Brussels promised. It is irresponsible for the EU to fail to act as quickly as possible to ensure that plug-in hybrids have a future in Europe, too. Tens of thousands of people will pay for this inaction with their jobs. We risk losing a technology in Europe that is in demand worldwide.

The fact is that plug-in hybrids will continue to play a major role worldwide, as all the figures show. If this technology is made unviable in the EU, the consequences will be devastating, particularly for German and European suppliers and their employees. That is why the automotive industry has a clear demand for Brussels: Immediately halt the tightening of the utility factor for plug-in hybrids.“